News

The 'Blue Long', en route from Jebel Ali to Rizhao, was boarded by five perpetrators, armed with knives, while transiting the Singapore Strait on Aug 27, 2024, at 11.20 p.m. approximately 4.2 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Nongsa in pos. 1° 15.25' N 104° 1.85' E. The intruders stole generator spares and escaped. No injuries to the crew were reported.

The 'Groton' was victim of a missile attack on Aug 31. The incident took place 130 nautical miles east of the Gulf of Aden. The Company Security Officer of the ship reported that two missiles had exploded close to the vessel. No damage to the vessel was reported, and the vessel continued proceeding towards its next port call. All crew members were reported safe. The Houthi terrorists took responsibility for the attack and stated that they had used naval, UAV, and missile forces to attack the ship. Already on Aug 3 the vessel was attacked, involving explosions in the sea and a missile strike.

The 'Blue Lagoon', en route from Ust-Luga, was attacked by Houthi terrorists on Sep 2, 2024. The tanker was struck twice by unknown projectiles 70 nautical miles northwest of Saleef, Yemen. The crew of the vessel contained the damage caused by the projectiles. Later, the captain of the vessel reported a third missile explosion in proximity to the vessel. All crew members were reported safe, and the vessel continued its voyage towards the next port call. The Houthi terrorists in a statement claimed responsibility for targeting the ship using multiple missiles and drones.

A salvage operation to recover the 'Sounion' was expected to start in the coming days, On Aug 30 the ASPIDES published a letter with an an initial game plan for the salvage of the 'Sounion' with the operation starting in 48 hours, which was likely to be complex. A potential spill of 2.2 nautical milesin length has been detected in the area matching the location of the tanker, which was, however, from the vessel’s engine and not from the oil cargo onboard. "The potential spill is from the tanker's engine after the first hit,” the ASPIDES official said. All nations and all actors involved were urged to assist in preventing the environmental hazard and resolving the situation the soonest possible. The Filipino crew members returned to the country on Aug 31. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed the repatriated seamen. The other seven seafarers are also set for repatriation in coordination with their manning agencies, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa). Each received immediate financial assistance worth P75,000 from the DMW Aksyon Fund and additional cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Owwa. They will also receive necessary medical assessment and psycho-social counseling. The recovery operation will be carried by private companies in cooperation with forces in the area partaking in the the European Aspides operation – namely the Greek navy frigate 'Psara', the German frigate 'Hessen', the French frigate 'Chevalier Paul', the Italian destroyer 'Andrea Doria' and the Dutch support vessel 'Karel Doorman',

The U.S. Central Command confirmed an attack on the 'Amjad' by Houthi terrorists on Sep 2, 2024. The vessel was hit by missiles and the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The tanker was loaded with two million barrels of crude oil en route from to Ju'Aymah to Ain Sukhna.